Mount for adapting weapons to a virtual tracker

ABSTRACT

A magnetic tracker mount comprising a tracker interface configured to adapt a weapon to a tracker that facilitates communications between the weapon and a virtual reality computing device. The tracker interface comprising a base plate including a groove comprising a female socket configured to receive a catch plate of the tracker, wherein the groove includes a magnet that attracts to the catch plate. The tracker interface further comprising a pin pad including pins configured to establish signal connections with the tracker, the pins transmitting signals from the weapon to the tracker.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to the following patents and applications,which are assigned to the assignee of the present invention:

-   -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/930,050, entitled “MAGAZINE        SIMULATOR FOR USAGE WITH WEAPONS IN A VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM,”        filed on Jul. 15, 2020, and    -   U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/930,060, entitled “A VIRTUAL        REALITY SYSTEM FOR USAGE WITH SIMULATION DEVICES,” filed on Jul.        15, 2020.    -   The above identified patents and applications are incorporated        by reference herein in their entirety.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material,which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent documentor the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and TrademarkOffice patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrightrights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

This application generally relates to a mounting device for a virtualreality tracker, and in particular, a screwless interface for attachingweapons to a virtual reality tracker.

Description of the Related Art

It has long been desired to provide personnel training to improve theirskills in aiming and firing shotguns, rifles, handguns, and otherweapons. Law enforcement and military training often place trainees intosituations that require quick visual and mental assessment of thesituation as well as an appropriate response with a weapon. Trainees areoften subjected to adverse situations to test their abilities toeffectively react.

Traditional training methods in marksmanship and firing tactics forhunters and other sportsmen, police, military personnel, and others,leave much to be desired from the aspects of realism, cost andpracticality. Many firing ranges have limited capacity. Moreover, mostexisting firing ranges do not provide protection for the shooter againstthe natural elements such as rain or snow. Because of the noise levelsnormally associated with firing ranges, they are typically located inremote areas requiring people to have to drive to remote locations. Theammunition, targets and use costs for the range, make such trainingexpensive. Furthermore, when live ammunition is used, expense, risks,administrative problems, safety concerns, and government rules andregulations are more burdensome. For training in marksmanship andtactics, it is beneficial to have an indoor range where shooters canfire simulated projectiles against simulated moving targets.

Video games are increasingly more realistic where users may be placedinto immersive virtual environments. First-person-view shooting gamesoffer players the ability to perform actions such as walking, crouching,shooting, etc., using a mouse and keyboard. However, these games areusually played in front of a computer where the user is sitting in achair and are adequate for personnel training. Virtual reality systemsmay improve gaming experience where the player's movement in the game isdependent on their actions in physical space which makes the game moreimmersive than a traditional video game. Despite the realism provided byvirtual reality systems, players are often provided with gamecontrollers that are either tethered or have the look and feel of toys.As such, existing virtual reality game controllers that arerepresentative guns differ from actual guns in feel and balance, andthus reduces the effectiveness of the training for real life.

There is thus a need to provide improved hardware for virtual realityshooting simulators.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a magnetic tracker mount. According toone embodiment, the magnetic tracker mount comprises a tracker interfaceconfigured to adapt a weapon to a tracker that facilitatescommunications between the weapon and a virtual reality computingdevice. The tracker interface comprising a base plate including a groovecomprising a female socket configured to receive a catch plate of thetracker, wherein the groove includes a magnet that attracts to the catchplate. The tracker interface further comprises a pin pad including pinsconfigured to establish signal connections with the tracker, the pinstransmitting signals from the weapon to the tracker.

The catch plate may comprise ferromagnetic material. The groove mayassist with proper alignment and contact of the pin pad with a pogo pinconnector of the tracker. The signals may be mapped into commands basedon contact connections with corresponding pins on the tracker.

According to another embodiment, the magnetic tracker mount comprises atracker comprising hardware configured to receive signals from a weaponvia a tracker interface and transmit the signals to a virtual realitycomputing device. The tracker comprises a magnet configured forinsertion into a groove of the tracker interface, wherein the grooveincludes a catch plate that attracts to the magnet. The tracker furthercomprises a pogo pin connector including a plurality of pins placed incontact with pins on a pin pad of the tracker interface to transfer thesignals from the weapon to the tracker. The magnet may be secured to thetracker by at least a screw or a bolt. The plurality of pins maycomprise a plurality of spring-loaded pins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is illustrated in the figures of the accompanying drawingswhich are meant to be exemplary and not limiting, in which likereferences are intended to refer to like or corresponding parts.

FIG. 1 illustrates a magazine simulator according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway view of a handle portion of a gun includinga magazine simulator according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 illustrates a bottom view of a tracker interface according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cutaway view of an electronic control weaponincluding a magazine simulator according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a bottom view of a tracker interface according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a tracker according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 illustrates a front handle view of a handgun loaded with amagazine assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate repeater mechanisms according to embodiments ofthe present invention.

FIG. 10 illustrates a computing system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 illustrates a tracker interface according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 12 illustrates a tracker according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 13 and 14 present an exemplary calculating of force forcompressing a pogo pin connector according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIGS. 15 and 16 present an exemplary calculating of removal force of atracker from a tracker interface according to an embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Subject matter will now be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, andwhich show, by way of illustration, exemplary embodiments in which theinvention may be practiced. Subject matter may, however, be embodied ina variety of different forms and, therefore, covered or claimed subjectmatter is intended to be construed as not being limited to any exampleembodiments set forth herein; example embodiments are provided merely tobe illustrative. It is to be understood that other embodiments may beutilized and structural changes may be made without departing from thescope of the present invention. Likewise, a reasonably broad scope forclaimed or covered subject matter is intended. Throughout thespecification and claims, terms may have nuanced meanings suggested orimplied in context beyond an explicitly stated meaning. Likewise, thephrase “in one embodiment” as used herein does not necessarily refer tothe same embodiment and the phrase “in another embodiment” as usedherein does not necessarily refer to a different embodiment. It isintended, for example, that claimed subject matter include combinationsof exemplary embodiments in whole or in part. Among other things, forexample, subject matter may be embodied as methods, devices, components,or systems. Accordingly, embodiments may, for example, take the form ofhardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof (other thansoftware per se). The following detailed description is, therefore, notintended to be taken in a limiting sense.

The present application discloses systems, devices, and methods thatemploy virtual reality to train police officers or military in the useof weapons like guns or electronic control weapons (e.g., thoseavailable from Taser™) in specific scenarios or situations. A traineemay be given an actual weapon or a training weapon that simulates anactual weapon and is connected to a virtual reality system. The traineemay wear goggles or headsets that are connected to the virtual realitysystem which plays a training scenario. Throughout the trainingscenario, the trainee's use of his weapon may be tracked and provided tothe virtual reality system.

FIG. 1 illustrates a magazine simulator according to an embodiment ofthe present invention. Magazine simulator 100 may be provided to a realgun, such as a Glock handgun, and operates or fires (e.g., virtually)when a trigger of the gun is pulled. The magazine simulator 100 may alsobe used with replica weapons, such as Airsoft or toy guns. The magazinesimulator may be inserted into a magazine well or a magazine insertingportion of a gun, according to an embodiment of the present invention.The magazine simulator 100 may comprise a box magazine 102, a trackerinterface 104, and a tracker 106. The box magazine 102 may include aswitch 108 that when inserted into a magazine well of a gun, may bearticulated with a trigger or firing mechanism of the gun. Switch 108may comprise one or more tabs, hooks or levers that are connected toelectronic circuitry or sensors in box magazine 102. The switch 108 maybe actuated by a gun trigger which may then connect an electrical signalfrom box magazine 102 to tracker interface 104. Box magazine 102 mayfurther include weights for modifying the balance and feel of a gun wheninserted. In one embodiment, force feedback may be provided bycompressed gas or a weight controlled by servo motors within boxmagazine 102 for enhanced realism while firing (based on thearticulations of the switch).

FIG. 2 presents a cutaway view of a handle portion of a gun including amagazine simulator according to an embodiment of the present invention.The box magazine 102 can be inserted into magazine well 204 of gun 200.When inserted, switch 108 may be configured with trigger connection 202.Trigger connection 202 may be connected to a trigger (not illustrated)of the gun such that when the trigger is pulled, trigger connection 202may move and engage with switch 108 which causes switch 108 to send asignal to tracker interface 104 to indicate that the trigger has beenpulled. According to one embodiment, switch 108 may be adjustablyconfigured with a plurality of trigger pull distances. Box magazine 102may be suitable for insertion into magazine wells of traditional guns.However, components of box magazine 102 may be modified for other typesof weapons, such as an electronic control weapon, where a battery packmay be inserted into the magazine well instead of a magazine withbullets.

FIG. 3 presents a bottom view of a tracker interface according to anembodiment of the present invention. Box magazine 102 may be assembledor attached to tracker interface 104. Tracker interface 104 may includepin pad 302, screwing bolt 304, and stabilizing pin 306. Pin pad 302 mayinclude pins corresponding to given signals from switch 108 of boxmagazine 102. In the exemplary embodiment presented in FIG. 3 , pin pad302 includes two pins. For example, a first pin may correspond to atrigger pull signal and a second pin may correspond to a groundconnection.

FIG. 4 presents a cutaway view of an electronic control weapon includinga magazine simulator according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Electronic control weapon 400 may include a magazine well 404operable to receive a box magazine 102′. Box magazine 102′ may include aswitch 108′ that may be actuated by trigger component 402 and a switch110 operated by safety component 406. Safety component 406 may becorrelated with on and off positions of a safety 410. Operation of thesafety 410 may cause safety component 406 to transmit a signal to switch110 that indicates the position of the safety 410 (e.g., either on oroff). Trigger component 402 may be coupled to a trigger 408 of theelectronic control weapon 400 such that when the trigger is pulled,trigger component 402 may communicate a signal to switch 108′ thatindicates the trigger 408 has been pulled. Switch 108′ may relay signalsfrom trigger component 402 and switch 110 may relay signals from safetycomponent 406 to the tracker interface 104′ illustrated in FIG. 5 .Electronic control weapon 400 may further include a weight 112 thatprovides a weight and feel of a realistic (e.g., electronic) weapon.

FIG. 5 presents a bottom view of a tracker interface according toanother embodiment of the present invention. Box magazine 102′ may beassembled or attached to tracker interface 104′. Tracker interface 104′includes pin pad 502, screwing bolt 504, and stabilizing pin 506. Inthis exemplary embodiment, pin pad 502 includes three pins, e.g., afirst pin may correspond to a trigger pull signal, a second pin maycorrespond to a safety position, and a third pin may correspond to aground connection. Pin pad 502 may include pins corresponding to givensignals from switches 108′ and 110 of box magazine 102′.

Signals from switches 108, 108′, or 110 may be transmitted to trackerinterfaces 104, 104′, respectively, and activate correspondingelectrical switches to pin pads 302 and 502. Articulations from gun 200or electronic control weapon 400 that are communicated to any ones ofswitches 108, 108′, or 110 are not limited to trigger pulls and safetypositions and may include other actions, events or signals that may begenerated from weapons. Pin pad 302 and 502 may provide an electricalconnection interface with tracker 106.

FIG. 6 presents a tracker according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Tracker 106 may comprise hardware configured to track andlink actions, events or signals from gun 200 or electronic controlweapon 400 to a virtual reality computing device. Tracker interfaces104, 104′ may be attached to tracker 106 to facilitate communicationsbetween gun 200 or electronic control weapon 400 and a virtual realitycomputing device, wirelessly. According to one embodiment, the virtualreality computing device may comprise a server running a Unity engine(Unity Technologies) that is interface with a tracker 106 that includeshardware, software, and software development tools from virtual realityproviders such as VIVE™.

Signals from pin pads 302 and 502 on tracker interfaces 104 and 104′ maybe convey to tracker 106 via pogo pin connector 602. Pogo pin connector602 may comprise a plurality of spring-loaded pins that supportelectrical connection with pins on pin pads 302, 502. Signals from thepins on pin pads 302, 502 may be mapped into commands based on contactconnections with corresponding pins on pogo pin connector 602. Thecommands generated on tracker 106 may be received and interpreted by thevirtual reality computing device.

Tracker interfaces 104 and 104′ may be mated with tracker 106 byinserting stabilizing pin 306 and 506, respectively, into a stabilizingpin recess (not illustrated) of tracker 106. The stabilizing pins 306,506 provide proper alignment and contact between pin pads 302, 502 andpogo pin connector 602. Tracker 106 may further include image sensorsand/or non-optical sensors (e.g., utilizing sound waves or magneticfields) that can be installed in hardware to track the movement of auser's body. According to another embodiment, optical markers may beplaced on tracker 106 (or alternatively on magazines 102, 102′, ortracker interfaces 104, 104′) for motion tracking using cameras to trackmovement of a user.

Tracker interfaces 104, 104′ may be secured to tracker 106 by securingscrewing bolts 304, 504 to mount 604. Screwing bolts 304, 504 may betightened and loosened from mount 604 via a thumbwheel 114 asillustrated in FIG. 7 . FIG. 7 illustrates a front handle view of a gunloaded with a magazine assembly according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The thumbwheel may be tightened until the trackerinterface (104, 104′) is securely fixed in place with tracker 106. Assuch, an assembly of box magazine 102, 102′, tracker interface 104, 104,and tracker 106 provides a magazine simulator 100 provides a virtualreality controller device that can be holstered and unholstered, usefulin simulating real training.

FIG. 8 presents a repeating mechanism according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. Certain guns may include a slide lock or release thatfunctions to lock a slide in its “back” position when a gun has expendedall ammunition from a magazine. To prohibit a gun from locking itsslide, a repeater 802 may be inserted into a slide 800 of a gun. Therepeater 802 may disable a slide lock or slide release to prohibit theslide 800 from locking upon firing with an empty magazine (e.g., boxmagazine 102, 102′). Furthermore, the repeater 802 may ensure thetrigger of the gun is reset. That is, after firing, the trigger may beeither held in position or goes limp/disconnected. When the slide 800cycles due to firing, the trigger can be reset so that the gun may fireagain. The repeater 802 in this case prevents the “dead trigger” so thatthe trigger of the gun can be pulled repeatedly without the slide 800cycling. Similarly, FIG. 9 depicts a repeater 902 comprising a fittedpiece that may be secured to slide 900.

FIG. 10 presents a computing system according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. A system 1000 may include box magazine 1002, trackerinterface 1004, tracker 1006, headset unit 1008, and virtual realitycomputing device 1010. Box magazine 1002 may comprise a housinginsertable into a magazine well of a gun and include a trigger detectswitch 1016 and safety detect switch 1018. The trigger detect switch1016 and safety detect switch 1018 may provide electrical connections orsignals to indicate a pull of a trigger or a position of a safety,respectively.

The box magazine 1002 may be coupled to tracker interface 1004. Thetracker interface 1004 may include trigger output 1012 and safety output1014. Trigger detect switch 1016 may include a circuit component thatopens and closes an electrical circuit to trigger output 1012.Similarly, safety detect switch 1018 may include a circuit componentthat opens and closes an electrical circuit to safety output 1014.According to other embodiment, trigger detect switch 1016 and safetydetect switch 1018 may be in another housing that is coupled to boxmagazine 1002, or tracker interface 1004, or both. The electricalconnections or signals corresponding to trigger output 1012 and safetyoutput 1014 may be carried to given pins on pin pad 1020.

Tracker interface 1004 may be further coupled to tracker 1006. Tracker1006 includes pin connector 1022, power source 1024, sensors 1026,wireless transmitter 1028, and microcontroller 1030. Pin pad 1020 may becommunicatively or electrically connected to pin connector 1022. Powersource 1024 may be connected to microcontroller 1030 and used bymicrocontroller 1030 to provide a voltage source to components withinbox magazine 1002 and tracker interface 1004 via pin connector 1022. Assuch, microcontroller 1030 may receive signals from closed electricalcircuits connected to pin connector 1022 and transmit the signals tovirtual reality computing device 1010 via wireless transmitter 1028.Virtual reality computing device 1010 may process or render the signalsusing processor(s) 1032 and transmit corresponding images to headsetunit 1008 from wireless interface 1034.

Microcontroller 1030 may also provide power to sensors 1026 and wirelesstransmitter 1028 from power source 1024. Sensors 1026 can detect aposition of tracker 1006 within the x, y and z coordinates of a space,as well as orientation including yaw, pitch and roll. From a user'sperspective, a gun connected to tracker 1006 may be tracked when pointedup, down, left and right, tilted at an angle, or moved forward orbackwards. Sensors 1026 may communicate where the gun is oriented tomicrocontroller 1030 which sends the data to virtual reality computingdevice 1010 for processing by processor(s) 1032 and renderscorresponding images for transmission by wireless interface 1034 toheadset unit 1008.

Headset unit 1008 may comprise a head mounted display, also includingcomponents similar to tracker 1006, that a user can place over theuser's eyes. The headset unit 1008 may be configured to communicationwith the virtual reality computing device 1010 to provide displayaccording to a virtual reality simulation program. Additionally, theheadset unit 1008 may be configured with positioning and/or motionsensors to provide user motion inputs to virtual reality computingdevice 1010. When wearing the headset unit 1008, the view may shift asthe user looks up, down, left and right. The view may also change if theuser tilts their head at an angle or move their head forward or backwardwithout changing the angle of gaze. Sensors on headset unit 1008 maycommunicate to processor(s) 1032 where the user is looking, and theprocessor(s) 1032 may render corresponding images to the head mounteddisplay. Sensors, as disclosed herein, can detect signals of any form,including electromagnetic signals, acoustic signals, optical signals andmechanical signals.

Virtual reality computing device 1010 includes processor(s) 1032,wireless interface 1034, memory 1036, and computer readable mediastorage 1038. Processor(s) 1032 may be configured to execute virtualreality training software stored within memory 1036 and/or computerreadable media storage 1038, to communicate data to and from memory1036, and to control operations of the virtual reality computing device1010. The processor(s) 1032 may comprise central processing units,auxiliary processors among several processors, and graphics processingunits. Memory 1036 may include any one or combination of volatile memoryelements (e.g., random access memory (RAM). Computer readable mediastorage 1038 may comprise non-volatile memory elements (e.g., read-onlymemory (ROM), hard drive, etc.). Wireless interface 1034 may comprise anetwork device operable to connect to a wireless computer network forfacilitating communications and data transfer with tracker 1006 andheadset unit 1008.

The virtual reality training software may comprise an audio/visualinteractive interface that enables a trainee to interact with athree-dimensional first-person-view environment in training scenarioswith tracker devices, such as a weapon including a virtualreality-enabled magazine assembly (e.g., comprising box magazine 1002,tracker interface 1004, and tracker 1006). Virtual reality computingdevice 1010 may receive signals or commands from tracker 1006 andheadset unit 1008 to generate corresponding data (including audio andvideo data) for depiction in the virtual reality environment.

The disclosed embodiments with reference to FIGS. 1 through 10 depictexemplary weapon devices and hardware that may be used with thedisclosed system. However, the disclosed system is compatible with otherweapons, magazine simulators, or interface devices.

In certain embodiments, a tracker comprises a threaded insert formounting to accessories (e.g., a weapon), similar to standard cameratripod mounts. A threaded insert mount requires a screw or otherfastener to attach the tracker to the accessory. Such a mountingmechanism becomes inconvenient on small accessories where the trackermay be much larger than the accessory itself. Another drawback is thatthe screw may compete for space with a critical part of the accessory.

The present application discloses a magnetic tracker mount comprising atracker interface and a tracker. FIG. 11 presents a tracker interfaceaccording to an embodiment of the present invention. A tracker interface1100 comprises hardware and circuitry for adapting a weapon to a trackerthat facilitates communications between the weapon and a virtual realitycomputing device, wirelessly. The tracker interface 1100 includes a baseplate 1102 that is configurable to the tracker. The base plate 1102includes a groove 1104 and a pin pad 1108. The groove 1104 comprises afemale socket configured to receive a metallic connector of a tracker.The groove 1104 includes a magnet 1106 for attraction with the metallicconnector of the tracker.

Pin pad 1108 includes pins that are used to establish electrical orsignal connections with a pogo pin connector of the tracker. Signalsfrom the pins on pin pad 1108 may be mapped into commands based oncontact connections with corresponding pins on the tracker. That is, thepin pad 1108 may include a first pin corresponding to a trigger pullsignal, a second pin corresponding to a selective fire or safety signal,and a third pin corresponding to a ground connection. The pin pad 1108may further include pins corresponding to other actions, events, orsignals that may be generated from the box magazine or weapon.

FIG. 12 presents a tracker according to an embodiment of the presentinvention. Tracker 1200 comprises hardware configured to receive, trackand link actions or events associated with signals from a gun magazineor weapon via the tracker interface 1100 and transmit the signals to avirtual reality computing device. The tracker 1200 includes a catchplate 1202, fulcrum 1204, and pogo pin connector 1206. Catch plate 1202may be secured to tracker 1200 via a screw, bolt, or any other fastener.The catch plate 1202 may comprise ferromagnetic material, such as iron,cobalt, nickel, and alloys thereof. The tracker 1200 can be attached tothe tracker interface 1100 by inserting catch plate 1202 into groove1104 which causes a magnetic attraction to magnet 1106.

The usage of magnet 1106 allows for attachment of smaller accessories(e.g., weapon) and allows for easier interchanging of trackers.Furthermore, the tracker 1200 is separable from tracker interface 1100such that the chances of an accessory attached to the tracker 1200 ofbreaking if dropped is decreased. Groove 1104 provides and assists inproper alignment and contact of pogo pin connector 1206 with pin pad1108 when attaching tracker 1200 to tracker interface 1100. Pogo pinconnector 602 may comprise a plurality of spring-loaded pins for placingin contact with pins on pin pad 1108 to transfer signals from the gunmagazine or weapon to the tracker 1200. Commands or signals received bythe tracker 1200 may be received and interpreted by a virtual realitycomputing device.

FIGS. 13 and 14 present an exemplary calculating of force forcompressing a pogo pin connector according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. A fulcrum 1300 may be used to determine anappropriate magnet strength that the magnet 1106 would need to exert tocompress the pogo pin connector 1206 and how the tracker 1200 sits onthe magnet 1106 and pogo pin connector 1206. Simplified modelsconsisting of second and third class levers may be used to determine anappropriate magnet strength on the tracker interface. The magnetstrength may be a critical parameter that affects compression of thepogo pin connector 1206 as well as the effort required to remove thetracker 1200 from the tracker interface 1100. FIGS. 15 and 16 present anexemplary calculating of removal force of a tracker from a trackerinterface according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 1 through 16 are conceptual illustrations allowing for anexplanation of the present invention. Notably, the figures and examplesabove are not meant to limit the scope of the present invention to asingle embodiment, as other embodiments are possible by way ofinterchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements.Moreover, where certain elements of the present invention can bepartially or fully implemented using known components, only thoseportions of such known components that are necessary for anunderstanding of the present invention are described, and detaileddescriptions of other portions of such known components are omitted soas not to obscure the invention. In the present specification, anembodiment showing a singular component should not necessarily belimited to other embodiments including a plurality of the samecomponent, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein.Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification orclaims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitlyset forth as such. Further, the present invention encompasses presentand future known equivalents to the known components referred to hereinby way of illustration.

It should be understood that various aspects of the embodiments of thepresent invention could be implemented in hardware, firmware, software,or combinations thereof. In such embodiments, the various componentsand/or steps would be implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or softwareto perform the functions of the present invention. That is, the samepiece of hardware, firmware, or module of software could perform one ormore of the illustrated blocks (e.g., components or steps). In softwareimplementations, computer software (e.g., programs or otherinstructions) and/or data is stored on a machine-readable medium as partof a computer program product and is loaded into a computer system orother device or machine via a removable storage drive, hard drive, orcommunications interface. Computer programs (also called computercontrol logic or computer-readable program code) are stored in a mainand/or secondary memory, and executed by one or more processors(controllers, or the like) to cause the one or more processors toperform the functions of the invention as described herein. In thisdocument, the terms “machine readable medium,” “computer-readablemedium,” “computer program medium,” and “computer usable medium” areused to generally refer to media such as a random access memory (RAM); aread only memory (ROM); a removable storage unit (e.g., a magnetic oroptical disc, flash memory device, or the like); a hard disk; or thelike.

The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fullyreveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applyingknowledge within the skill of the relevant art(s) (including thecontents of the documents cited and incorporated by reference herein),readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specificembodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from thegeneral concept of the present invention. Such adaptations andmodifications are therefore intended to be within the meaning and rangeof equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching andguidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseologyor terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not oflimitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the presentspecification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light ofthe teachings and guidance presented herein, in combination with theknowledge of one skilled in the relevant art(s).

What is claimed is:
 1. A magnetic tracker mount comprising: a trackerinterface configured to adapt a weapon to a tracker that facilitatescommunications between the weapon and a virtual reality computingdevice, the tracker interface comprising a base plate including: agroove comprising a female socket configured to receive a catch plate ofthe tracker, the groove including a magnet that attracts to the catchplate, and a pin pad including pins configured to establish signalconnections with the tracker, the pins transmitting signals from theweapon to the tracker.
 2. The magnetic tracker mount of claim 1 whereinthe catch plate comprises ferromagnetic material.
 3. The magnetictracker mount of claim 1 wherein the groove assists with properalignment and contact of the pin pad with a pogo pin connector of thetracker
 4. The magnetic tracker mount of claim 1 wherein the signals aremapped into commands based on contact connections with correspondingpins on the tracker.
 5. A magnetic tracker mount comprising: a trackercomprising hardware configured to receive signals from a weapon via atracker interface and transmit the signals to a virtual realitycomputing device, the tracker comprising: a catch plate configured forinsertion into a groove of the tracker interface, the groove including amagnet that attracts to the catch plate, and a pogo pin connectorincluding a plurality of pins placed in contact with pins on a pin padof the tracker interface to transfer the signals from the weapon to thetracker.
 6. The magnetic tracker mount of claim 5 wherein the magnet issecured to the tracker by at least a screw or a bolt.
 7. The magnetictracker mount of claim 5 wherein the plurality of pins comprise aplurality of spring-loaded pins.